Preserving poetry's charm

Famous Tang Dynasty poems

王維(Wang Wei)

相思

紅豆生南國，

春來發幾枝。

愿君多采擷，

此物最相思。

The Love Bean

The red bean grows in Southern Land.

How many twigs shoot forth in spring?

Pray pick, pick more to fill your hand;

To speak for love, 'tis the best thing.

李白(Li Bai)

將進酒

君不見，

黃河之水天上來，

奔流到海不復回！

君不見，

高堂明鏡悲白發，

朝如青絲暮成雪！

人生得意須盡歡，

莫使金樽空對月。

天生我才必有用，

千金散盡還復來。

烹羊宰牛且為樂，

會須一飲三百杯。

岑夫子，

丹丘生，

將進酒，

杯莫停。

與君歌一曲，

請君為我傾耳聽。

鐘鼓饌玉不足貴，

但愿長醉不愿醒。

古來圣賢皆寂寞，

惟有飲者留其名。

陳王昔時宴平樂，

斗酒十千恣歡謔。

主人何為言少錢，

徑須沽取對君酌。

五花馬，

千金裘，

呼兒將出換美酒，

與爾同銷萬古愁。

Do Drink Wine

Don't you espy

The Yellow River surge down from the sky,

Up to the sea it does tumble and flow?

Don't you espy

To my white hair in the mirror I sigh,

As at dawn is black and at dusk turns snow?

Do enjoy life while in prime you run high;

Not to the moon just your empty cup ply.

So born by Heaven we must be of use;

Spend all the money and more will come up.

Cook lamb, kill cattle just for joy profuse;

Do gulp down three hundred fills from your cup.

Ts'en, my teacher,

Redknoll, friend mine,

Don't put down cups,

Do drink the wine.

I'll sing you a song of cheer,

Please listen, prick up your ear.

Bells, drums and dainties are precious no more;

Drink ourselves drunk, ne'er sober, lying down.

Obscure are the sages and saints of yore,

Only drinkers can enjoy high renown.

At olden times Prince Ch'en held a great feast;

He drank barrels and barrels with no stall.

How can a host claim to have money least?

I shall buy more and drink up to you all.

Dapples be sold,

And furs like gold.

Call our son to pawn them, buy wine, buy more,

With you I will drink off our age-long sore.

杜甫(Du Fu)

望岳

岱宗夫如何？

齊魯青未了。

造化鐘神秀，

陰陽割昏曉。

蕩胸生曾云，

決眥入歸鳥。

會當凌絕頂，

一覽眾山小。

Looking at Mt. Arch

Behold Mt. Arch, how high it stands

Its green o'er Ch'i and Lu expands.

The nature's made it a great one,

Shade as its moon, shine as its sun.

Unto my chest thick clouds arise;

And homing birds fly to my eyes.

When I reach the top to view all,

All mountains under me are small.

白居易(Bai Juyi)

賦得古原草送別

離離原上草，

一歲一枯榮。

野火燒不盡，

春風吹又生。

遠芳侵古道，

晴翠接荒城。

又送王孫去，

萋萋滿別情。

Seeing a Friend Off by an Old Grassland

Rolling, rolling, the grassland's grass

Blooms or dries as time turns to pass.

A wild fire can't all of it burn;

A spring wind heralds its return.

The fragrance does the old road drown;

The green spreads to the dreary town.

Now I see you off once again,

Sad, sad, the grass is filled with pain.

TRANSLATIONS BY ZHAO YANCHUN